The National Women’s Hall of Fame is saddened and heartbroken about the passing of 1996 NWHF Inductee, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay. Holladay founded and established The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA). Opened in 1987, the museum promotes a greater awareness of women in the arts and their contributions to aesthetics throughout the ages. The museum cares for and displays a permanent collection, presents special exhibitions, and conducts educational programs. A state-of-the-art, 200 seat auditorium serves as a center for the performing arts and other creative disciplines in which women excel.
Wilhelmina Cole Holladay once said, “There is no such thing as ‘women’s art.’ Art is art. But there is art by women that is not recognized yet. No one else is going to do it unless someone focuses on it” (Washington Post, Obituaries, 3/8/21).
Wilhelmina Cole Holladay championed women through the arts. The founding of the National Museum of Women in the Arts catalyzed a shift in the art industry, creating a space for women to exhibit and celebrate their history.